Meta plans to lay off approximately 8,000 workers, or roughly 10% of its workforce, on May 20 as part of efforts to enhance efficiency and manage increasing investments in artificial intelligence.
The layoffs contribute to a wider trend of AI-driven job reductions across the tech industry. Chief People Officer Janelle Gale announced the decision in a Thursday memo, which also confirmed the company will halt plans to fill 6,000 open positions.
Gale stated, “We’re doing this as part of our continued effort to run the company more efficiently and to allow us to offset the other investments we’re making.” This reduction marks the largest for Meta since 2023, following cuts of 11,000 employees in November 2022 and another 10,000 roles later that year. Earlier in 2023, about 2,000 additional positions were eliminated in two rounds of layoffs.
According to sources cited by Reuters, Meta is preparing for another round of layoffs in the second half of the year. The timing and scale of these layoffs are not yet determined, and executives may adjust their plans based on developments in AI capabilities.
In related news, Microsoft has announced voluntary buyouts for approximately 7% of its US workforce, marking the first program of its kind in the company’s 51-year history. The retirement offer is open to US employees at the senior director level or below whose combined age and tenure at the company total 70 or more. Eligible employees will receive details about the program on May 7.
Restructuring efforts are becoming more common throughout the tech sector. Recently, Oracle announced it would cut roughly 30,000 jobs, while other companies like Amazon, Block, and various crypto firms have also been reducing their workforce.
Governments are increasingly deploying AI in public services, with the UAE directing a transition of half of its federal sectors to agentic AI within two years.
